Showering and toileting are considerably easier and safer if you choose the correct shower commode for your residents’ needs.
It's important to find solutions that protect fragile skin, prevent injury to both your residents and team and ultimately enable you to provide a calm and comfortable showering experience.
When looking at which commodes will benefit your facility, it’s necessary to consider the acuity of your residents and what they’re physically able to do. Can they sit upright or would a tilt-in-space commode make the individual feel more secure?
A resident with low tone in the trunk or poor balance will benefit from a tilt-in-space commode, as the tilt function spreads a person’s weight over the back and seat of the commode while lowering pressure points. The latest pressure care guidelines show that a 35° tilt, combined with recline at 100° can reduce the pressure placed on a user's sacrum by over 40% which helps prevent pressure injuries, and is also hugely beneficial for residents who spend the majority of their time in bed or in sitting positions - even a small amount of time each day in a tilt position can make a difference. The tilt function also takes a load off carers as they aren't required to hold the commode into position.
Choosing the correct seat will ensure stability when seated and help protect the skin from pressure injuries or skin tears. Your residents’ I.T (sit) bones and coccyx should fall within the aperture (opening), so the load is carried by their glute muscles and legs.
Two-seat opening options are available – an open front seat provides easier access for showering residents while a closed front gives more stability for petite residents. For superior pressure relief and comfort, we handcraft AquaSoft(R) seats where you can choose rear, front or side openings. Our handmade seats are seamless and made using high-grade vinyl and foam, rather than moulded or machine-made padded seats.
If larger or bariatric residents find they’re unable to sit comfortably or safely on some commodes there are wider options available, that are designed to withstand heavier individuals. Just be sure to check that the commode will fit through the door into your shower room.
In situations where a shower commode needs to be used for more than one resident, it’s important to ensure your commode has infection control properties, such as a seamless seat, steel framing, and easy to clean surfaces.
Shower commodes get a lot of use and are exposed to all sorts of minerals and cleaning agents, which means they deteriorate over time. Regular maintenance and cleaning of the castors, seat, and frame will help extend their working life. If the chair is hard to push or there is a damaged seat, it will need to be repaired or replaced immediately to prevent further risk of injury or infection to staff and residents.